Automatic air-controlling device



June 15 1926.

O. W. G. RABE AUTOMATIC AIR CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed April 27 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, a 1926-.

UNITED STATES PATENT .oFFIca.

rro WILLIAM ensravn mum, or LANCASTER, GALIFORL'LI-i auroma'rrc AIR-CONTROLLING nnvrcn.

Application filed April 27, 1925. Serial at. 26,213. g

This invention relates to an automatic air control, such as an automatically operable auxiliary air inlet device for internal combustion engines, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of such class having means controlled by varying speeds of the engine above a predetermined speed for automatically controlling the supply of secondary air to the intake manifold of the engine for ad. mixing with the combustible charge to there by thin the same to increase the efiiciency of the engine, to obtain a greater mileage from the charge, to clean the carbon from the en.- gine cylinder, to overcome carbon formation therein, and to prevent the fouling of the spark plugs. v

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an auxiliary air inlet .device controlled by the speed of the engine, and which is simple in its construction and arrangement,

- strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readily connected to the intake manifold of the engine, and inexpensive to manufacture. I 1 a With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the ,novel construction, combination and arran ement of parts, as hereinafter more speci cally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto a pended.

In the drawings wherein ike reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine showing theadaptation with the intake-manifold thereof of an auxiliary air inlet device, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device. I

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes an internal combustion engine, 2 the intake manifold thereof, and 8 generally designates the auxiliary air inlet device, secured to and opening into the intake manifold 2 intermediate the ends thereof, preferably in proximity to the carbureter, not shown, of the engine. 1

The auxiliary air inlet device when in inactive position opens the suppl of auxiliary air to the intake manifoldof t e engine and v portion 6 and an intermediate portion 7, of

greater outer diameter than either of the end portions. At the point of joinder of the portion'7 with the ortion 5, the former is provided with a aterally extending annular flange 8. At the point of joindenof the portion 7- with theportion 6, the former is pros vided with an inwardly arranged integral disk 9, forming the tube 4 with'what may be termed an air inlet'p'assage .10 and an air outlet passage 11. The disk 9, which further constitutes a partition is disposed centrally of the tube 4. The portion? of the tube 4, in close proximity to the disk 9, is formed with a series of spaced intake openings 12, of substantial diameter, for the passage 11.

The periphery of the portion 7, between the flange 8 and openings 12, is 'threaded,as at 13. The portion 7 projects laterally with re- 1 spect to the portion 6, thereby providing a shoulder or stop 14.

The portion 5, at its inner end, is era-lly' threaded for engagement w1th the threaded wall of an opening 15 formed in the intake manifold 2 for the purpose of deperiph- V tachably connecting the tube 4 to the manifold. The opening 15 is preferably arranged in proximity to the carbureter, not'shown, of i the engine.

The portion 6 is formed with a circumferentially extending row of spaced openings 16 which gradual y increase in diameter relatively to each other throughout. The row of openings is spirally arranged with respect to the axis of the portionfi, and the smallest of said openings is positioned in proximity to the disk 9. The openings 16 provide progressively increasing outlets for the air inlet passage 10, and said row of openings'is adapted to be closed in a manner to be presently referred to.-

Threadedly engagin with the threads 13 of the portion 7, is a'fl anged collar 17, having the flange thereof abuttin against the inner face of the flange 8 of tie portion 7. Slidably mounted on the portion 6 and adapted to abut against the shoulder 14 when the device has been actuated to close the ports 16, is a shiftable sleeve 18 provided with a flange 19 at its outer end and further flan e 19.

T e sleeve 18 is shiftable relatively to the portion 6 through the medium of the shiftable front wall 28 of a closed circular casing 24, preferably constructed of leather and providlng an air chamber 25. The rear wall 26 of the casing 24 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 27, and through the latter extends the collar 17 and the flange of the latter abuts agalnst the outer face of said wall 26. The wall of -the openinga 27 snugly engages the periphery of the col-,

. which snugly collar 21.

lar, 17 to provide a substantially air-tight joint. The front wall 28 of thecasing 24 is provided with an opening 29, the wall of engages the periphery of the The flange 22- of the collar 21 I abuts against the outer face of the wall 28 ing to shift the v and the flange 23 abuts against the inner face of said wall 28.- I

The portion 6, at its outer end, is peripherally threaded, as at 30, and adjustably engaging therewith is a cap 31 formed with an air intake 32. Surrounding the tube 4 andinterposed between the collars 17 and 21 is a coiled controlling spring 42 normally actwall 28 of the casing for the purpose of shifting the sleeve 18 relatively to the portion 6 to open the outlets formed by the openings 16.

" The device acts to increase the supply of auxiliary 'air to theintake manifold when the engine operates at variable speeds above a predetermined speed, and the openings 12 Provide for the passage of air from the chamber to the intake manifold up to said predetermined speed, by way of ex am 1e, said predetermined s eed will be twelve milesan hour. When the engine operates at variable speeds above the speed of twelve miles an hour, the wall 28, due to the action of the spring 42, will be shifted openings 16, that-is outwardly and due to the suction action of the engine will be shifted inwardly and under such conditions will engage the sleeve 18 thereby causing the latter to slide in like directions on the portion 6 of the tube 4 to uncover one or more of the openings 16 to provide for an increased or decreased supply of auxiliary air to the intake manifold and owing to the manner of setting up the pro ressively increasing in diameter, the supp y of auxiliary air is controlled and such control is governed by the speed of the engine.

When the engine is not running the wall 28 and sleeve 18 will stand in their outermost positions, due to the expansive action of the spring 42. Initially any suitable means is employed to hold the sleeve in The flange 22 abuts against the ting of the throttle chamber and that closed osition when the engine is started,

after w ich the sleeve is released. While thed in the position shown in Figure 2.

ever, the suction is reduced and the spring 42 gradually forces the wall 28 and sleeve outwardly to open one or more of the openlngs dependent upon the degree of suction in the manifold, and,

valve or in other. words the position of the sleeve is controlled by the degree of suction.

' It is thought that the many advantages of an automatic air control such as an auxlliary air inlet device, in accordance with this in,- vention, for internal combustion engines, can be readily understood, particularly in view of the fact that the supply of auxiliary air is controlled by the speed of the engine when the latter is operating at variable speeds above a redetermined speed, as the device when active will not only provide for the thinning of a combustible charge to increase the efficiency of the engine to obtain a greater mileage from the charge, but also for the cleaning of carbon from the engine cylinder, to overcome carbon formation and further to prevent fouling of the spark plugs, and although the referred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in 16. The position of the sleeve 18 is therefore, upon the setthe details of construction can be had which will fall within the as claimed.

What I claim is 1. An auxiliary air inlet device for internal combustion tubular element provided with means to form a pair of separated air passages, one communicating with the atmosphere and the other adapted to open into the intake manifold of the engine, a casing surroundin said element, providing an air chamber an formed with a spring controlledshiftable wall, said element provided with means for establishing communication between said passage ppening into the intake manifold for controlling the shifting of said Wall by the suction action of the engine above a predetermined speed and to provide for a the intake manifold, said element further provided with progressively increasing means to establish communication between said chamber and that passage communicating with the atmosphere to supply auxiliary air to said chamber, and slidable means mounted on said element and actuscope of the invention engines comprising a i supply of auxiliary air to ated on the shift of said wall for controlling the supply of air through said progressively increasing means to said chamber.

2. An auxiliary air inlet device for internal combustion engines comprising a tubular element provided with means to form a pair of separated air passages, one communicating with the atmosphere and the other adapted to open into the intake manifold of the engine, a casing surrounding said element, providing an air chamber and formed with a spring controlled shiftable wall, said element provided with means for establishing communication between said chamber and that passage opening into the intake manifold for controlling the shifting of said wall by the suction action of the engine above a predetermined speed and to provide for a supply of auxiliary air to the intake manifold, said element further provided with progressively increasing means to establish communication between said chamber and that passage communicating with the atmosphere to supply auxiliary air to said chamber, slidable means mounted on said element and actuated on the shift of said wall for controlling the supply of air through said progressively increasing means to said chamber, and said element provided with a stop for limiting the closing movement of said slidable means.

3. An auxiliary air inlet device for internal combustion .engines comprising a tubular element provided with means to form a pair of separated air passages, one communicating with the atmosphere and the other adapted to open into the intake manit'old of the engine, a casing surrounding said element, providing an air chamber and formed with a spring controlled shiftable wall, said element provided with means for establishing communication between said chamber and that passage opening into the intake manifold for controlling the shifting of said wall by the suction action of the engine above a predetermined speed and to provide for a supplv of auxiliary air to the intake manifold, said element further provided with progressively increasing means to establish communication between said chamber and that passage communicating with the atmosphere to supply auxiliary air to said chamber, slidable means mounted on said element and actuated on the shift of said wall for controlling the supply of air through said progressively increasing means to said chamber, and a controlling spring for said wall, said spring mounted on said element and slidable means.

4. An auxiliary air inlet device for internal combustion engines "comprising a tubular element provided with means to {form a pair of separated air passages, one communicating with the atmosphere and the other adapted to open into the intake manifold of the engine, a circular casing surrounding said element, providing an air chamber and formed with a spring controlled shiftable wall. said element provided with means for establishing communication between said chamber and that passage opening into the intake manifold for controlling the shifting of said wall by the suction action of the engine above a predetermined speed and to provide for a supply of auxiliary air to the intake manifold. said element further provided with progressively increasing means to establish communication between said chamber and that passage communicating with the atmosphere to supply auxiliary air to said chamber, slidable means mounted on said element and actuated on the shift of said wall for controlling the supply of air through said progressively increasing means to said chamber, said element provided with a stop for limiting the closing movement of said slidable means, and a controlling spring for said wall, said spring mounted on said element and slidable means.

In testimony whereof, I afilx my signature hereto.

OTTO WlLLlAM GUSTAVE RABE. 

